Many people, including NFL commentator Warren Sapp, counted out the Steelers after just four weeks of the season.
The Steelers had something to say about that as they handled the Tennessee Titans 38-17 at Heinz Field.
“When you are doing good or doing bad, people are always going to find something to say,” said wide receiver Mike Wallace. “We were just coming out and ballin’ up and it shuts everybody up for another week, but we have to come back and do it again next week.”
“It was a good bounce back week for us, coming off of a loss,” said Head Coach Mike Tomlin. “It was an appropriate response. I thought that we played together and we played hard in all three phases.”
The defense thought it was a “here we go again” game when Titans running back Chris Johnson ran for 21 yards on the first play from scrimmage, but they buckled down after that allowing Johnson only 30 yards on 13 carries.
“Everybody was just in there doing their job,” said linebacker LaMarr Woodley. “We were making sure to stay in the gaps and not try to overdo it and make plays. Everybody was just playing their gaps and allowing people that are supposed to make plays, make plays.”
As the defense was back to their old form, the offense came out big against the Tennessee defense.
Ben Roethlisberger threw for 228 yards and five touchdowns while the running backs ran for 174 yards, including 107 from practice squad running back Jonathan Dwyer.
“They prepared me to play and I got my mind ready to play for every circumstance, from special teams to running back,” said Dwyer.
Roethlisberger threw for five touchdowns for the second time in his career.
“I just wanted to give them everything that I got and try to put our team and the offense in the best situation that we can to win football games,” said Roethlisberger.
With the win, the Steelers improved to 3-2 on the season and are tied for second place in the AFC North Division with Cincinnati, ½ game behind idle Baltimore.
Notes: Ben Roethlisberger surpassed 150 career touchdown passes, ending the day at 152… The Steelers have held three of their five opponents this season to 17 points or less… Ryan Clark took time out of pregame warm-ups to shake hands with and sign autographs for 29 breast cancer survivors on the field prior to the game… After both of Hines Ward’s TD catches, he gave each ball to two different fans in the stands wearing jersey #86…
Image Source – (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
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